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--x--The Chapter Starts Here--x--

“Damien… You are back…” Candice said delightedly, carrying her toothy grin.

She was dressed in a pastel colored frock, her hair twisted into a messy bun, a few strands falling across her face.

The man, Damien, walked past her without even looking at her, handing over his suitcase to her.

“I have made your favourite dinner. Come fast.” She said again, unfazed by his coldness.

He stopped by the staircase for a few moments, raising her hope, but went away again without sparing her a glance.

She didn’t mind him, turned and walked into the kitchen, quietly bringing the dishes to the dining table.

She stood near the chair, waiting.

He came back, maybe a few minutes after, and gave her a small nod.

She started serving him, he started eating wordlessly.

He nodded again, she sat on the chair and started serving herself, but a painful hiss from her mouth stopped both of their movements, cutting through the quiet like knife.

“Applied your medicines today?” He spoke to her for the first time.

“Ye… Yeah” Her smile never left her face. Not for a second.

“Okay… It will heal soon.”

She started taking food into her mouth with a small nod, when a small slam made her stop her movement.

“Yes.. Yes.. It would.. ” She replied, shivering, but grinning.

He again started eating, satisfied by the answer.

The dim light flickered above them, casting long shadows on his expressionless face.

“You have become a good cook. I love the chicken today.”

Damien said, patting her head

“Thank You. I will also try different dishes for you. What else do you want to eat?” She asked with genuine interest, almost genuine.

“I would say if I crave anything.” He said his eyes set on her cleavage, then her face, innocently chewing the rice, but keeping her grin constant every second possible.

“For now… It's you” He continued unintentionally, and she froze.

She started standing, but he stopped her abruptly.

“First finish eating. I don’t want you sick” 

She slowly sat and started gulping down the food, hurriedly.

Then as she finished, she ran into their room, while he slowly followed her laughing sinisterly, with predatory steps.

By the time he entered, she was already on the bed, waiting for him, her arms extended in silent invitation.

Her posture was obedient. Welcoming.

Her throat moved as she swallowed hard, but the smile was still there.

“My doll!! Always ready for me!!” he murmured, sitting beside her.

He cupped her chin in one large hand, his gaze almost soft.
He planted a kiss on her forehead, then her nose, then her lips.
When he drew back, her eyes were closed, her breathing shallow.

He watched her face, captivated by her stillness, before capturing her lips again.

Suddenly a sharp sound interrupted their moment like thunder, he looked at her eyes open, then her face slowly vanished into the air, he was confused.

“Candy? Where are you going?”

“Candice!! Stop right there.”

“CANDICE”

The room started feeling cold, and the light started turning off, with the increase of the sound.

The beautiful room filled with her choice of colours, started turning dark.

The man sleeping near the foot of the bed woke up with a jerk.

Hands cold as ever. Room filled with darkness.

He looked onto the bed, with faint hope that she would be there, sleeping, snoring softly.

But, it was the same crinkled sheet with a slight fragrance of her. 

“Candy stop… Please come back… My buttercup” He whispered more to himself.

He was about to get up, the sound shrieked again. 

“Maybe it's Candice,” he whispered again.

He got up from the floor with a hiss due to a strained neck, but ignored it searching his phone frantically.

“Robert Assistant” said the screen on the mobile phone.

“Yes,” Damien said with a hoarse tone.

“Si.. Sir.. Sorry to disturb you so early.” The person at the other end, who happened to be Damien’s assistant, spoke out.

“Did you call me to apologise?” 

“Irr… No… It's actually about the meeting of the Singapore client. It's scheduled in two hours.” Robert said, crossing his fingers.

“Cancel it.” Damien replied, in no nonsense tone, without any explanation.

“But sir, why?? It's so urgent.”

“Now I have to explain myself to you before doing things?”

“No.. No, sir. Absolutely not. I will do it.”

“Not only this. Cancel all the meetings for two days.”

“Oh.. Okay, sir.”

After the call went off, Damien called someone else.

“Bloody hell. Why are you so inefficient?” He screamed his lungs out, veins popping on his forehead.

“I’m trying, sir. Maybe someone is helping her, there is no trace of her.” said the other person on the call, fearing for his life.

“Nick!! If you can’t find her in one hour, then consider yourself gone.”

“Sir.. Sir.. Listen to me.. Just give me a few more hours… I will surely find Madam..”

“One hour it is then.”

“Idiot” Nick cursed under his breath. Damien was engrossed in his thoughts to listen to him
He tossed the phone aside, pressing the heel of his hand to his eyes. He could still see her there, her arms open, her face resigned.
Every moment without her felt like hell.
He stood, walked to the bathroom, and turned on the shower.
The water poured over his hands, ice-cold, but it didn’t wake him from the feeling pressing down on his chest:
She belonged to him.
And no matter what it took.
He would bring her back.

“Wherever you are!!! Just hold on darling.”

“DAD… MOM!!!” Damien entered his parents mansion, shouting.

“Hey… Damien” A man descended the staircase. 

“Happy to see you here son”

But his expression was anything but happy.

“Cut the chase, Dad. Where is Candice? Did she come here?”

“She ran away??? Glad she did…” A woman in her fifties spoke from behind Damien, clapping her hand lightly.

“It's not the time to joke Mom” Damien said, barely controlling his urge to lash out at them.

“Who said I’m joking? I am really glad she did.” She said sitting elegantly on the central chair of the mansion. 

“MOM!!” Damien screamed, his voice echoing in the mansion.

“Enough!! You two.” Sunny George, his father intervened.

“Damien… We don't know where she is. Go and find her instead of wasting time here. Maybe she is in trouble. Maybe she needs you, son”

“If I find out you people are hiding her, you would know how much of a devil your son is.”

“Ahh. We already know that SON,” His mother replied, emphasizing on the word Son.

Damien looked at her, and turned to go.

“Damien” Damien stopped without turning back.

“Find her soon. She is precious to us. To both me and your mom.” Damien stood still

“And when you do, don't hurt her. Please” Elena, his mother added, this time with sincerity.

Damien turned, to face them, and for the first time in years, they saw emotion on his face, before they could recognise what it is, he was quick to cover it up 

He left with a small nod.

His parents watched his car ignite engine leaving their premises.

“What do you think Darling?” His Dad asked, looking outside, where Damien’s car had gone.

“About what?” Elena raised her eyebrows quizzically.

“Would he change?”

“Honey, I don’t have any hope from him now.”

“I just pray the sweet girl is alright, wherever she is. And..”

“And Damien never finds her?”

“Yes!! We all have seen, what he did last time we tried to keep her at our place just to give her space”

Sunny nodded with agreement, while Elena put her head on his shoulder, hoping Candice was safe and fine.